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... Diets high in fiber not only help prevent constipation but also may lower cholesterol
levels, and decrease the risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome, so increasing fiber
in the diet can benefit the whole family.
Increased dietary fiber enhances the feeling of fullness after eating, which may ...

... seeds, popcorn, crunchy peanut butter, corn, cucumber, and squash; as well as fruits and vegetables with seeds such as
strawberries, figs and tomatoes. However, there has never been any medical proof that these foods are injurious. Many
gastroenterologists allow and even encourage consuming these fo ...

... Dietary fiber refers to the indigestible carbohydrates in plant foods. There are two types of dietary fiber:
soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel. It is particularly helpful in lowering
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and promotes th ...

... it is fermented by bacteria. As it absorbs water, it becomes gelatinous which is an
important property for the health benefits.
Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids, slows down the time it takes to empty the stomach
and the rate of sugar absorption by the body. The benefits are:
...

... lignin (phenolic polymers) that, for the most part, come from the cell
walls of plants. Humans can’t digest the fiber because we don’t have the
enzymes to do so (although some of the bacteria in our gut may). Our
enzymes either can’t recognize the type of carbohydrate in the polymer
or can’t hydroly ...

... a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, but
two recent studies show even more benefits:
• A Harvard University study published in
Pediatrics indicates that young women who eat
the most fiber have a lower risk of breast cancer
later in life. The researchers believe fiber helps
reduce high estr ...

... There are many factors leading to constipation, such as
- a decrease in water intake,
- a decrease in dietary fiber intake,
- a decrease in exercise and
- taking medications (such as pain medications and iron supplements).
...

... promoting healthy laxation. Some of the best sources of dietary fiber are beans and peas,
such as navy beans, split peas, lentils, pinto beans, and black beans. Additional sources of
dietary fiber include other vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts. All of these foods
are consumed below recomme ...

... Insoluble Fiber
There are two types of dietary fiber, insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber is also called
“roughage” or “bulk” and is not soluble in water. The main job of insoluble fiber is to keep
your intestinal tract healthy by reducing the amount of time that food sits in your intestinal
trac ...

... There are two main types of dietary fiber:
• Soluble fiber: This fiber consists of carbohydrates and dissolves in water. These fibers are fermented by colon
bacteria and used as nourishment and a food source. Foods that contain soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables, oats,
barley, and legumes (pea ...

... are many dietary reasons to maintain a substantial intake of fruits
and vegetables including intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
and dietary fiber. The following dialog will draw attention to
dietary fiber.
While dietary fiber is easily pictured, it is less easily defined. The
physiological c ...

... Fiber is classified into two categories: water-insoluble and water-soluble.
Insoluble fiber is not dissolved in the digestive track. What your grandma might have referred
to as “roughage” is actually insoluble fiber. This kind of fiber is best known for bulking up waste
and moving it through the col ...

... reduced risk of heart disease. (FDA, 1993b) Soluble
fiber has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol (“bad
cholesterol”), and this is the mechanism by which it is
believed to lower heart disease. Based on these effects,
FDA permits “health claims” on the labels of foods
that are good sources of natural ...

... amount of chewing, thus aiding digestion and slowing the eating process so less food is consumed. It
also alters secretion of digestive enzymes and improves glucose tolerance by delaying the rate at which
the stomach empties. This same effect allows the individual to feel fuller both sooner and long ...

... Getting enough of these nutrients can improve your health and help reduce the risk of some diseases and conditions. For example getting enough calcium can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis and eating a diet high in
dietary fiber promotes healthy bowel function.
...

... of fiber per day1, but the typical North American diet
includes only 8-10 grams of daily fiber. UNICITY LIFIBER,
a psyllium-based powder drink, provides ample
high-quality dietary fiber and herbs that are beneficial to
the gastrointestinal tract.
LIFIBER offers increased effectiveness by including a ...

... Fiber Basics
Why is Fiber Important?
 Fiber is a substance found only in plants, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.
 It’s an important part of our daily diet because it helps keep us “regular” and prevents
constipation.
 Foods that are high in fiber can help in the treatment of constipation, ...

... Several sources of soluble fiber are used for food and beverage formulation, including oat and barley betaglucan, konjac plant glucomannan, larch arbinogalacatan, soluble corn fiber, inulin and oligosaccharides. And,
all come with an array of health benefits. “Soluble dietary fibers have two basic t ...

Dietary fiber

Dietary fiber or roughage is the indigestible portion of food derived from plants. It has two main components: Soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and can be prebiotic and viscous. Insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water, is metabolically inert and provides bulking, or it can be prebiotic and metabolically ferment in the large intestine. Bulking fibers absorb water as they move through the digestive system, easing defecation.Dietary fibers can act by changing the nature of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract and by changing how other nutrients and chemicals are absorbed. Some types of soluble fiber absorb water to become a gelatinous, viscous substance which is fermented by bacteria in the digestive tract. Some types of insoluble fiber have bulking action and are not fermented. Lignin, a major dietary insoluble fiber source, may alter the rate and metabolism of soluble fibers. Other types of insoluble fiber, notably resistant starch, are fully fermented.Chemically, dietary fiber consists of non-starch polysaccharides such as arabinoxylans, cellulose, and many other plant components such as resistant starch, resistant dextrins, inulin, lignin, waxes, chitins, pectins, beta-glucans, and oligosaccharides. A novel position has been adopted by the US Department of Agriculture to include functional fibers as isolated fiber sources that may be included in the diet. The term ""fiber"" is something of a misnomer, since many types of so-called dietary fiber are not actually fibrous.Food sources of dietary fiber are often divided according to whether they provide (predominantly) soluble or insoluble fiber. Plant foods contain both types of fiber in varying degrees, according to the plant's characteristics.Advantages of consuming fiber are the production of healthful compounds during the fermentation of soluble fiber, and insoluble fiber's ability (via its passive hygroscopic properties) to increase bulk, soften stool, and shorten transit time through the intestinal tract. A disadvantage of a diet high in fiber is the potential for significant intestinal gas production and bloating.